What is your position with Ellipsis?
I’m an overnight direct care supervisor.
How long have you worked here?
I’ve worked at Ellipsis for about five and a half years.
Have you had any other roles/jobs during your tenure with Ellipsis?
Over the years, I have held a lot of roles, previously working days, evenings, in both the boys’ and girls’ units, in the kitchen, and even in the nursery when we had that facility.
What drew you to work at Ellipsis?
I grew up pretty similarly to many of our kids, so I have always been drawn to working with kids. I always wanted to help kids in bad situations know they are not alone in this. My husband and I spent six years as treatment-level foster parents in Wisconsin. After moving back to Iowa and raising six kids, two of whom were adopted, this just seemed like the next best thing.
Can you recall a moment (during your career with Ellipsis) when you felt like you were in exactly the right place, doing exactly what you should be doing? What was that like?
When you get a hug from a kid and they tell you, “You make me want to be a better person,” there is no way to describe that feeling. You just know you have made a positive difference in the decision-making that kid is going to have.
What are some of the more challenging aspects of this job?
It’s tough when you don’t feel like you are making a difference or making progress with a kid or teen.
What are some of the rewarding aspects of the job?
When you KNOW you are making a difference! As employees in this field, we have to remind ourselves that we are making a difference. This is not an instant gratification job, but trust me, we are making a difference in ways we will never know.
Why is it important to have residential programs in communities and qualified people working in them?
People need to understand that we are not working with kids who just need an attitude adjustment or are entitled. They have gone through trauma. It takes patience and understanding to get to the cause of the behavior because the behavior will not change until we address the root of it.
What is a misconception people may have about mental health treatment? How do you dispel that?
I think a big misconception with kids who have mental health issues is that people think they may just lack discipline. It has little to do with discipline and much more to do about the need for structure, boundaries and consistent support.
If there’s anything else you’d like to add, please feel free to do so!
It takes a community. I would say to my peers that in every shift, every role, we are all in this together.